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Managing on-demand email storage

Managing on-demand email storage description/claims

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to improved messaging systems and in particular to improved filing of electronic messages within messaging systems. Still more particularly, the present invention relates providing and managing on-demand email storage space, such that important emails can be stored, rather than discarded, when the pre-determined email storage space is full.

2. Description of the Related Art

The use of electronic mail (email) and other electronic messaging and communications, such as instant messaging, has expanded rapidly over the last few years. Typically, an email application, such as Lotus™ Notes, provides a user interface between the user and an email server that sends and receives email via a network, such as the Internet.

An email server is typically hosted by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or other entity that hosts email services. Each ISP typically pre-defines the amount of disk space each user is allowed for holding email and attachments. Some ISPs will provide free email service, with minimal disk space, but accessibility from any computer system. Other ISPs may charge a monthly fee for email access. Further still, some ISPs may provide sufficient disk space, but are accessible only from a system logged into an Intranet.

Regardless of the disk space allowed, when a user's disk space is full, ISPs begin to toss emails, rather than store emails for the intended recipient. To free disk space, users must monitor emails and either transfer emails to a local storage system or delete emails.

Discarding all emails once disk capacity is full is not preferable for many users. In particular, while a user may receive many “junk” emails during the day, the user may also receive many important emails that the user does not want just discarded.

In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide a method, system, and program, for enabling a mail user to request on-demand storage capacity, when the predetermined email storage space is full, such that incoming emails that are of importance to the user are stored, rather than discarded. Further, it would be advantageous to provide a method, system, and program for managing on-demand storage, such that a user is only billed for the additional storage capacity temporarily received.

Therefore, the present invention provides improved messaging systems and in particular provides for improved filing of electronic messages within messaging systems. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method, system, and program for managing on-demand email storage space, such that important emails can be stored, rather than discarded, when the pre-determined email storage space is full.

According to one aspect of the invention, an email service provider allocates a predetermined amount of storage space to an intended recipient. When an email is received for the intended recipient at the email service provider, the email service provider determines whether the predetermined storage space has sufficient capacity for storage of the email. If the predetermined storage space has insufficient capacity for storage of the email, then the email service provider allocates on-demand storage space to the intended recipient. The email service provider then stores the email in the on-demand storage space, such that the email is stored, rather than discarded, when the predetermined storage space reaches full capacity. The email service provider tracks use of on-demand storage space and may charge the intended recipient for the use of on-demand storage space.

According to another aspect of the invention, when the email service provider determines that the predetermined storage space has insufficient capacity for storage of the email, then the email service provider determines whether the intended recipient is registered for the on-demand storage space. If the intended recipient is registered for addition of on-demand storage space, then the on-demand storage space is allocated to the intended recipient. However, if the intended recipient is not registered for the on-demand storage space, then the email service provider discards the email.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, when the email service provider determines that the predetermined storage space has insufficient capacity for storage of the email, then the email service provider determines whether the characteristics of the email matches with criteria set by the intended recipient for use of on-demand storage space. The criteria may include, an email identifier, a domain name, an email size, and a keyword, for example. If the characteristics of the email match the criteria, then the email service provider allocates the on-demand storage space to the intended recipient. If the characteristics of the email do not match the criteria, then the email service provider discards the email.

Following, an intended recipient, or email subscriber, is prompted through a user interface to select whether to access on-demand storage space when the predetermined storage space is full. If the intended recipient selects to access on-demand storage space, then the intended recipient is also prompted to select criteria to determine which emails are important enough to the intended recipient that on-demand storage space should be allocated. The on-demand storage space selection and criteria selections are stored by the mail service provider such that when the intended recipient predetermined storage space has insufficient capacity for storage of an email, the email service provider is enabled to determined whether to allocate on-demand storage space for the particular email.

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a computer system in which the present method, system, and program may be implemented;

FIG. 2 depicts a distributed network system for facilitating distribution of electronic messages between a sender and a recipient through an email service provider;

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of an email service provider server in accordance with the method, system, and program of the present invention;

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